CYCLING INDUSTRY PLEDGE

As leaders in the cycling industry, we are responsible for making our workplaces, communities, and world genuinely inclusive. The Cycling Industry Pledge (CIP) holds companies accountable to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cycling community and includes the WTF Guiding Principles for any individual to take.

WHY A PLEDGE IS NEEDED

The cycling industry is the most discriminatory out of all outdoor industries on gender-based exclusion*. Cycling companies hold an influence on how people interact with the bike industry. As representatives of the bike industry, they invite the types of people who choose to recreate outside and shape how they behave. Day-to-day, they manage countless employees who do the same. In the way they operate, they can elevate inclusion to the front of our workplace culture.

Gender and racial inequality prevail in bike shops, professional cycling, and media representation within the cycling industry. Professional cycling is among the worst with disproportionate funding, payouts, support, and attention for women and transgender people. In bike shops, women disproportionately experience sexism and exclusivity more than men.* LGBTQ+ and people of color are subject to inequities around the world, especially in the United States, but we have a valuable opportunity to take on gender, racial, ethnic, and other divides by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our cycling communities.

Spending from cycling contributes significantly to local, state, and national economies, as well as internationally – the second-highest spending for any outdoor activity*. Advocating for inclusion is not just for social good, but it also improves the economy, corporate performance, and employee engagement. Cycling companies with diverse groups of employees, athletes/ambassadors, and media representation perform better and leave our outdoor spaces in better hands for the next generation.

Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion effectively engages and supports all underrepresented groups.To do this, they must address honestly and head-on the concerns and needs of their diverse employees to increase equity for all. Gender, racial, and ethnic diversity does not stand alone: it intersects with age, sexual orientation, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, and other categories of identity. We are committed to empowering people who are underrepresented in groups such as those above. We support ongoing advocacy efforts for body-positive culture, women, indigenous rights, LGBTQIA+ equality, and differently-abled cyclist enthusiasts.

CIP PRINCIPLES

We commit to sharing our progress with WTF Bikexplorers to evaluate progress towards weaving diversity, equity, and inclusion within our company. We will track our own progress, share an annual update with WTF Bikexplorers, and hold ourselves accountable to the goals we have set via the Pledge.

We advocate supporting other companies in the bike industry in their pursuit of inclusion. We will do this by building a culture of collaboration, enhancing existing programs, and making a commitment to serve the greater cycling community.

We recognize that the commitments above won’t solve our challenges overnight, but we believe they represent incremental progress toward building a more inclusive bike industry. We hope this list of signatories will grow over time, and we invite other bike industry companies around the world to join us.

We believe the bike industry will reach its full potential when it represents everyone who rides a bike. By committing to the Cycling Industry Pledge and advocating for diversity and inclusion within our workplaces, industries, and broader business community, we create a landscape that includes and empowers everyone.

CIP ACTIONS

In signing the Cycling Industry Pledge (CIP), I will help craft a specific set of actions for my company which will:

Uplift underrepresented voices and stories in our media to provide the next generation a collection of role models who represent all backgrounds. Recognize the difference between tokenization and representation when it comes to content by holistically supporting inclusion within the entire companies practices and policies.

Support athletes and ambassadors with gear and funding to achieve their goals and showcase them in our media because they represent the core values of our brand.

Commit to supporting events and races that encourage more inclusion and diversity within the sport.

4. Share the Pledge with other companies in the cycling industry

Encourage other companies to begin their paths to inclusive representation by sharing your commitment to this pledge.

Be vulnerable and open to real conversations about the challenges we face together in the bike industry and understand that change starts with you.

COMMIT TO THE CYCLING INDUSTRY PLEDGE

We recognize that these four outlined actions are not the complete answer. Still, we believe they are concrete steps toward building more diversity, equity, and inclusion and forming a more accountable network within the cycling industry.

By being a part of the CIP Network, you will receive emails about CIP updates, resources, and actions from WTF Bikexplorers. We want to emphasize that the CIP Network is accountable to follow the WTF Guiding Principles and take the actions outlined seriously. At the end of the year, we expect signees to fill out a survey on what actions your company has taken and what improvements can be made for the CIP Network.

Marzocchi

Box Dog Bikes

Cloud 9 Cycles

Bike SLO County

Cycle Oregon

KEATING WHEEL COMPANY

YOUR BUSINESS HERE

RESOURCES

Diversity is the presence of differences that may include race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, language, (dis)ability, age, religious commitment, or political perspective. Populations that have been-and remain- underrepresented among practitioners in the field and marginalized in the broader society.

Equity is promoting justice, impartiality and fairness within the procedures, processes, and distribution of resources by institutions or systems. Tackling equity issues requires an understanding of the root causes of outcome disparities within our society.

Inclusion is an outcome to ensure those that are diverse actually feel and/or are welcome. Inclusion outcomes are met when you, your institution, and your program are truly inviting to all. To the degree to which diverse individuals are able to participate fully in the decision-making processes and development opportunities within an organization or group.